This is the theme of the culmination of the Mindanao Week of Peace in Assumption College of Davao. Ironic as it may seem that while we celebrate the Mindanao Week of Peace, brutal killings happened in Maguindanao province.It is just so poignantly depressing that at the thoroughgoing effort of people like myself who wholeheartedly support and inculcating the culture-of-peace in the young minds of my students, a barbaric Maguindanao massacre happened that made me believe all my efforts had gone with the wind.
With this event it made me travel down memory lane that for quite a while I had been a resident of this area. I worked for a local paper ‘The Mindanao Cross’ right after graduation in college back in the early 90s. As always this place never passed an election time without bloody encounters, ambush, burning the whole village making it no-human’s-land, bombing, etc. name the kind of violence I had witnessed accounts of these during the heyday of my newspaper career.
But no matter how many times one hears about meaningless killings, it is still horrifying to hear each time it happens.
The massacre yesterday of the members of Mangudadatu family and journalists in Ampatuan, Maguindanao was, without a doubt, a deliberate move to sow fear among voters of the area. It was entirely designed to jolt away anyone who dares rock the political boat in the province of Maguindanao. It was undoubtedly carried out by those in power to maintain the status quo.
How could these people descend so low?
My sympathies to the family of those who innocently been murdered by these mad evil-minded people.
To the people of Mindanao, let us all be vigilant. While at some point I dwell on hopelessness and lose heart with my advocacy, I go back to the thought that there can be more good people who desire peace than these dim-witted people who spread terror.
And to the Bloggers of Mindanao, let us not permit cowardice to blight the magnificence that is inherent of Mindanao. We should not permit the deaths of the blameless to be worthless.
And to all my friends in the blogosphere, let it be known that Maguindanao is just a province in Mindanao. I insist not to label the whole of Mindanao or Southern Philippines as lawless.
And if you support our initiative to promote and nurture a Culture Of Peace in this part of Mindanao, please display a black ribbon on your blogs to signify awareness, vigilance, compassion for the family of the victims, and above all JUSTICE.
Lastly, it should be noted that our common goal is lasting peace, meaningful, sustainable development in the whole of Mindanao. (You can copy the black ribbon and post it in your blog, Thank You!)
The MASSACRE YESTERDAY was alsa a headline news here in California in CNN. My friends here are now concern about our safety in the Philippines, but I told them Mindanao is way too far from Marinduque and we will not be affected. Yes, let us bring Peace to Mindanao. Read your comments about Entrecard. How do I sign in?
ReplyDeleteThank you David, it's really sad, I'm really sad about this gruesome killings. Praying for the souls of those who were innocently murdered.
ReplyDeletejustice must be served. my deep sympathy to the families of those been brutally murdered. May their soul rest in peace and may the Lord comfort their love ones.
ReplyDeletesad to hear that both parties involve are PGMA party members. I hope and pray that this case will be solved immediately.
God bless !
Life, this is indeed the manifestation of the saying 'tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are,,'
ReplyDeleteVernz, I am so shocked and saddened by these recent killings. I pray for the families of the victims, and as a newcomer to the Philippines from American, I know these murderers are not representative of the friendly and good-hearted Filipinos I know and that I count as my friends. What a sad day for the Philippines.
ReplyDeleteOne of the victims was a female human rights lawyer, a fellow Ilongga and alumna of La Consolacion College, Bacolod City.
ReplyDeleteThis is, indeed, a sad day, not only for Mindanao but for the Philippines.
Vernz, I'll post the black ribbon in my blog, too. Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteTo David, Life, Dave and Ms. Ray Thank you for taking time to read. Indeed, what they did was a highest form of barbarism, we'll see what the administration of GMA can do to expidite disposition of justice. I'm really angry with what happened. The suspects own several properties here in Davao City, although people has not been talking publicly, there is that tension present in the air. Thank you again.
ReplyDelete